You've heard the snide comments, the callous remarks. You have felt the sneers. You have been on the receiving end of way too many nasty comments. People have torn you down, besmirched your reputation. And they've said all sorts of things that were not true. You feel hurt, betrayed, and want to strike back. And give them a piece of your mind.

Here's a word to the wise: Don't.

Bad mouthing those who bad-mouth you is a dark, desolate, dead end street. And it's a path you must avoid at all costs. Even if the comments made about you were vicious, snide and mean spirited, you must turn the other cheek. And walk away. I know it's hard to do. I know you want to even the score, to set the record straight.

Please, please, please don't go there.

"Getting into a mudslinging contest accomplishes only one thing: it gets YOU dirty." Greg Hickman

Whenever you strike back, you strike out. Think about it for a minute. When the bad-mouthing really gets cooking, at least three people get hurt in the process: the person being bad-mouthed (strike one), the person doing the bad-mouthing (strike two) and the individual or individuals who happen to overhear the trash talk (STRIKE THREE!).

When you start slinging the mud, you get nasty. You get grimy. You get all gunky and grubby. Before you know it, you are up to your neck in the mud and the muck. And nobody can tell the difference between you and the person who started the fracas.

When you start spewing vitriolic rhetoric, even at those who have wronged you, you lose face. You lose your dignity. And you lose out.

"Turn on the charm. Turn on the nice. And turn things around." Greg Hickman

Learning to walk away when you are getting ripped to shreds takes character. It takes maturity. It sometimes takes everything you've got. Fighting the tendency to fight fire with fire can prove to be quite a battle... a battle most people lose.

Rather than ignore their critics, most folks lose their temper and blow their tops. And start dishing it back in return. Not to be out done, their detractors amp up their criticism another notch or two and sling it right back. Back and forth, forth and back, one nasty comment followed by another.

What in the heck are these people accomplishing? Other than looking like a couple of hot-headed fools to everyone else, they are just slinging the mud... and getting muddy.

"Think before you speak." Greg Hickman

You need to accept criticism for what it is - just someone else's opinion and nothing more. When you give in and respond to the cynics, you give credence to what they are saying about you. And place yourself square in their crosshairs. Before you have even finished a sentence, here comes another salvo of attacks hurtling your way.

When you return fire, they've got you right where they want you - down and dirty and right in the middle of a big, ugly fight. Come on, you are better than that.

Regardless of how surly the comments get, stay above the fray. Stay out of the fight. And refuse to respond. When you choose to ignore your critics, it doesn't take long for them to lose their steam, lose their oomph. And go looking for someone else to pick on.

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Do you know a friend, coworker or relative that could possibly use a daily dose of motivation? If so, we'd love for you to help us out and help us spread our positive message. If you could pass on today's passage to anyone and everyone who could use a quick boost to their day, that would be a great help! And if you could simply invite them to sign up for both our complimentary Power Up Passage and Motivational and Inspirational Corner Newsletter by going to our home page at http://www.motivational-inspirational-corner.com and signing up in the SUBSCRIPTION BOX, that would be greatly appreciated.